Bernese Mountain Dog

Book excerpt: This Comprehensive Owner's Guide to the Bernese Mountain Dog serves as a complete introduction to this handsome Swiss breed, recognized for his long tricolored coat of jet black, rich red, and white. The most popular of the four Swiss mountain breeds, the Bernese is as friendly and warm-hearted as any Working dog can be! Around the world, the breed is highly regarded for its versatility as a farm dog, cart puller, watchdog, and companion, all roles that are discussed in the first chapter of the book dedicated to the breed's origins in Europe. This chapter also provides a brief overview of the breed's development in the U.S. and England. It is followed by a chapter on owning the breed and activities suitable to keep an active Bernese happy, offering sound advice about which owners are best suited to the breed.New owners will welcome the well-prepared chapter on the breed standard, finding a breeder and selecting a healthy, sound puppy. Chapters on puppy-proofing the home and yard, purchasing the right supplies for the puppy as well as house-training, feeding, and grooming are illustrated with handsome adults and puppies bursting with energy and personality! In all, there are over 135 photographs in this compact, useful, and reliable volume. The author's advice on obedience training the attentive Bernese will help readers better mold and train their dogs into the most socialized, well-mannered dog in the neighborhood. The extensive chapter on healthcare provides up-to-date detailed information on selecting a qualified veterinarian, vaccinations, parasites, infectious diseases, and more, which is followed by a chapter on caring for the senior dog. Sidebars throughout the text offer helpful hints, covering topics as diverse as historical kennels, toxic plants, first aid, crate training, carsickness, fussy eaters, and parasite control. Fully indexed.